Carey: 'My songs help troubled fans'

Mariah Carey has revealed that she likes writing songs that help her fans.

The 'Hero' singer, who stars in Precious, a movie about incestuous rape, said that she believes it is important for young people to relate to her songs.

Carey told Parade magazine: "There are a lot of girls that I see at my shows that may fit the description of what people might think a 'Precious' girl is. When I sing certain songs, you really see that it brings out emotions in them."

She continued: "I see tears of gratitude or joy because they relate to the message. So that's why I continue to do songs that I feel will be uplifting."

Carey also talked about the film in which she plays a social worker, saying: "I guess the button that the story pushed in me would be just empathy. I mean your heart has to go out to Precious because she is going through so much. It touched me as a woman. It touched me just as a person."